Stamford Young Timers hand out Rioux Sportsmanship Award

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Stamford Young Timers Girls Basketball League (SYTBL), in existence since 1970, instituted an end of season honorary sportsmanship award for the first time this year.

The league chose to honor the late Allyson Rioux, one of Stamford's finest athletes ever, by presenting the "Sportsmanship Award" in her name.

Receiving this year's awards in the senior and junior divisions, respectively, were Melissa Miles and Elizabeth Calo.

Now a Stamford legend, Allyson Rioux is remembered as much for her astonishing athleticism as for her gracious and generous spirit. She died of a brain tumor in 1989 at the age of 27. Although cut short, Allyson lived a fulfilling life, reaching goals through discipline and hard work.

Notably, Allyson was a renowned multi-sport athlete, whose ten years as a "pro" softball player landed her as a six time All-American, and inclusion in the Westhill High School, Connecticut, UMASS, and NATIONAL Softball Halls of Fame.

The Allyson Rioux Memorial Foundation has been established to provide outreach support to the Stamford Community, particularly those families experiencing financial hardship because of a serious illness.

As part of the Foundation's mission to support local girl's sports organizations, the Foundation sponsored in 2009 two teams, one in the junior and one in the senior divisions of the Young Timers League.

The Foundation also recognizes each year outstanding female athletes in Stamford through the awarding of the Allyson Rioux Memorial Award, which promotes the character, spirit and ideals of Allyson, one of Stamford's most recognized hometown heroes.

Through fundraising activities, particularly the annual Allyson Rioux Memorial Golf Tournament (Sterling Farms, May 14th), and the newly established "Allyson Rioux Celebration Dinner," (Knights of Columbus, May 14th) the Allyson Rioux Memorial Foundation strives to expand its current level of financial support while searching for new and alternative ways to honor the talented and giving life of Allyson Rioux.